About Me

I live in a small town. Every weekend, I visit the same local retail establishments in order to complete shopping errands. I’m always saddened when I hear about a favorite local retailer incurring damage from a theft. I know many small business owners. They are hard-working people who have invested much of their time and finances into their businesses. For them, losing merchandise from a theft may lead to financial ruin. If you are a small business owner, consider purchasing a state-of-the-art security system in order to protect your business assets. On this blog, you will discover the best types of security systems to install in small businesses.

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Customizing Security Systems With Your Own Technology

As computers continue to get faster, smaller, cheaper, and often easier to use, it's easier to link everything together for a more customized approach. If you like to take a fine-tuned level of control to your computers, you can treat many of your surveillance and alarm systems like an extension of your computer -- with a few security precautions, of course. Here are a few tech customization options for security systems that any home or business can apply to their property with a moderate level of tech knowledge or research.

A Note About Security And Customization

A security system is more than just connecting cameras, arranging sensors, and installing alarms. Security will always be a slightly reactionary game of catch up, and the cleverest thieves would be fools not to study whatever systems are in place. It's more about filtering out the average intruder, but you don't want to handicap yourself with the wrong changes.

Some changes to the security system can actually make your system less secure. Many systems rely on cables, and if you remove the cables from their secure position without notifying a training security installer, you could be sending a big, obvious alert to a thief about where to cut.

On the digital side, connecting everything to computers and the internet is a blessing and a curse. It's not difficult to secure your systems, but if you've heard about the multiple hacks that happen on the Internet of Things, know that it's less about extremely clever hackers and more about bad security.

Some people leave their cameras with default usernames and passwords, and any computer hobbyist with curiosity and a mean streak will try to type in the most commonly used credentials. If you make changes, make sure to bring in a security installer to add their industry best practices. Being just good at computers is nowhere close to being good at security.

Changes To Boost Your Security Performance

Many surveillance and alarm systems use a central deck or control system for recording and monitoring. They're like VCRs, DVD players, or DVRs for security systems, and they often perform the same functions as those recording and playback systems.

Instead of -- or in addition to -- those security consoles, you can connect a standard computer as well. It can be a desktop or a laptop, but avoid using a smartphone unless you can make it secure enough that a thief can't quickly pocket the system.

Many security cameras from companies like Videotec Corporation have computer-friendly video connections such as VGA, HDMI, or DVI. Some security consoles will even allow you to connect a computer to the back of the console for easier use, and you can simply record the security information on your computer.

Security systems that boast these features on the box will include software and troubleshooting guides. If you're using a security system that isn't intended for computer use, you'll have to download video recording software that will use the surveillance system as a set of webcams (web-enabled cameras, although webcams don't need to be connected to the internet).

For alarm systems, some services will send a text message or their own security app system's alert to your phone and email. You can enhance this system by using your email account to mark any alerts from the security system as special, and send them to a specific folder. Here is Google's mail routing guide as an example.

Contact an alarm control system professional to discuss other changes and security decisions to boost your security situation.